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AGREED to note the report.
AGREED to note the outcome of the petition received between January and June 2026.
AGREED to note the report.
AGREED to note the minutes of the meetings held on 22 June 2026 and the 15 September 2026.
AGREED to note the Annual Report for 2025-26.
AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the Self-Assessment Report 2025/26 including the Annual Review of Performance and Well-being Objectives.
AGREED to note the contents of the report.
AGREED to note the contents of the report and to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised (Welsh version) Policy (Appendix 1).
AGREED to note the contents of the report and recommend that it be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.
AGREED to note the Quarter 4 2025/2026 report as the Local Authority’s performance activity for the Safeguarding of Children and Adults for information and monitoring purposes.
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · As a few reports had been deferred to a later date, the Healthier Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee would only convene once next month on 18 November 2026.
i. Councillors Elaine Evans and Wyn Evans apologised for their inability to attend the meeting. ii. Councillor Gwyn Wigley Evans apologised for his inability to attend the meeting due to other Council business. iii. Councillor Gareth Davies, Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.
There were no disclosures of personal and prejudicial interests (including whipping declarations) from Committee Members.
i. The Chair marked the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster and extended his condolences. Members observed a minute’s silence in remembrance. ii. The Chair welcomed Lowri Morris, Scrutiny & Standards Officer to the first meeting in her new role.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the report.
Duncan Hall, Executive Corporate Lead Officer: Finance and Procurement presented the Controllable Revenue Financial Monitoring and Capital Financial Monitoring reports for Quarter 4 25-26 presented to Cabinet on 07.07.26. The final overall revenue outturn position was an improved underspend of £278k, against a 25-26 Budget of £209.2m. The final position in quarter 4 resulted in the Council’s General Balances ending the year at £7.3m, equating to 3.3% of the Council’s 26-27 Budget. Audit Wales issued an unqualified audit report for the 25-26 accounts, which were presented to the Governance and Audit Committee and Full Council on 24.09.26. As reported in the 25-26 Capital Outturn report and at the meeting of the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16.06.26, the Aberaeron Coastal Defence scheme was complete, achieving practical completion on 30.09.25 and was now in a 12-month defects liability period. In relation to the 26-27 Controllable Revenue Budget presented to Cabinet on 01.09.26, a small overspend of £230k was currently forecast for the year across all Services at the end of quarter 1. Similar to 25-26, the main challenges included out of county placements, agency staff and the in-year Council tax collection rate. Since the writing of the report, the NJC staff pay awards had been agreed at 3.3% for 26-27. In addition, the Teachers’ pay awards had been agreed at 3.5%, but the level of additional funding was yet to be confirmed. Following the agreement on Welsh Government’s Supplementary Budget for 26-27, Ceredigion was to receive £1.158m of the £60m of additional funding announced for Additional Learning Needs (ALN). c£214k would remain with the local authority as per the grant offer to support functions including the ALN Service, and the remainder (c£944k) would be allocated directly to schools. The additional funding was an in-year allocation at present. Duncan Hall reported that from a Capital perspective, the main emerging issue during quarter 1 related to Ceredigion Museum and the additional costs due to unforeseen building condition issues uncovered when the old roof was removed. The latest estimated total scheme cost was £1.700m versus an original budget of £1.350m. Funding options for the estimated shortfall were currently being explored including external grant funding. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Key points raised included: · The Chair stated he appreciated the work being undertaken to Ceredigion Museum, the challenges faced due to its age and size, and the various options being explored to finance the work. · Members welcomed the additional ALN funding. It was noted that the grant offer specified that each school received a fixed sum of £4500, with the remainder of the funding allocated based on pupil numbers. It was AGREED to note the report.
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AGREED to note the outcome of the petition received between January and June 2026.
Councillor Bryan Davies (Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance and People and Organisation) explained that the report was presented on a six-monthly basis moving forward, in line with the Council’s decision on 22.01.26. He reported that between January–June 2026, one petition had been received titled ‘Re Speed Limits on the B4570 in Cwm Cou’. Following presentation to Cabinet on 03.03.26, the petition was presented to Leadership Group as it was considered an operational matter. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Key points raised included: · Members noted it was beneficial to have a greater understanding of the petitions received and their position once presented to Cabinet. In relation to the petition received during the reporting period, Highways were awaiting Welsh Government guidance on setting speed limits. Any changes would be reported in the next six-monthly update. In response to a query on whether local authorities had to await guidance from Welsh Government on setting speed limits, as other local authorities seemed to be taking their own decisions due to the delays, it was suggested that the query be raised with the relevant service and that the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered adding the item to their Forward Work Programme. · Members suggested that the petition’s organiser was made aware of the outcome of the petition by the service or by the local ward member, and that a column be added to the table to indicate whether this had been done. It was AGREED to note the outcome of the petition received between January and June 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the report.
Councillor Bryan Davies (Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance and People and Organisation) presented the mid-year update on the 16-point action plan arising from the Self-Assessment Panel reviews held in March 2026. Separate workshops were held with Cabinet Members and Scrutiny to capture their views on the positive contribution made by scrutiny as well as to identify areas for strengthening the effectiveness and impact of the Scrutiny process. He noted that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees were members of the Performance Board and were able to add items to their respective Forward Work Programmes where required. He praised the Cabinet for conducting their work professionally and thanked Officers for briefing Cabinet Members ahead of meetings, although this could be improved at times. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Key points raised included: · The importance of ensuring reports were read ahead of meetings was key, and to keep discussions to the topic in hand, especially if there were many agenda items to consider. It was noted that every effort was made to place pre-decision reports first on the agenda, followed by reports to note. · Members suggested that it was not always possible to be neutral/ non-politicised during discussions, as some matters such as parking were more contentious than others. It was noted that Scrutiny was considered a ‘critical friend’ in the democratic process. · In relation to refusing reports to note when the agenda was already full, it was noted that this was at the discretion of the Chair. However, careful consideration should be given, as there could be wider implications of doing so, as some reports were presented due to statutory purposes. It was noted that training on the matter would be provided in due course. · In response to a suggestion that the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Committee could request that Members submit their comments ahead of the meeting to keep the discussion on reports to note focused, it was noted that the practicalities of this would need further discussion. In addition, it was noted that transparency was important, along with being able to have discussions and provide recommendations to the Cabinet. It was AGREED to note the report.
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AGREED to note the minutes of the meetings held on 22 June 2026 and the 15 September 2026.
Hazel Lloyd-Lubran, Chair of the Public Services Board for Ceredigion and Chief Executive of CAVO presented the minutes of the first meeting of the newly formed Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion Public Services Board (PSB) held on 15 September 2026. During the meeting, Dr Ardiana Gjini (Hywel Dda University Health Board) was appointed Chair, with Huwel Manley and Gavin Bown (Natural Resources Wales) appointed Joint Vice-Chairs. An overview of the items discussed at the meeting was provided, which included a presentation by Mr Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, and the three priorities set by the PSB for the next 18 months whilst the new Local Wellbeing Plan for 2028 was being developed. Hazel Lloyd-Lubran proceeded to present the minutes from the final Ceredigion PSB held on 22 June 2026. She thanked the Committee for their contribution during her time as the Chair and encouraged that the work continued under the merged PSB, for the benefit of Ceredigion’s residents. Councillor Bryan Davies extended his thanks to Hazel Lloyd-Lubran for her work as the Chair of Ceredigion’s PSB prior to the merger with Carmarthenshire, and to the Policy and Performance Team for their input. In response to a suggestion that PSB meetings should be held in a suitable venue in the future, it was clarified that the next meeting on 10 December 2026 would be held at the Council Chamber in Penmorfa, Aberaeron. It was AGREED to note the minutes of the meetings held on 22 June 2026 and the 15 September 2026.
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AGREED to note the Annual Report for 2025-26.
Hazel Lloyd-Lubran, Chair of the Public Services Board, Ceredigion and Chief Executive of CAVO presented the 2025-26 Annual Report on behalf of Ceredigion’s Public Services Board, which outlined the progress against key actions for 2025-26 as part of delivering the Ceredigion Local Well-being Plan 2023-28. She thanked the Officers for compiling the report. It was AGREED to note the Annual Report for 2025-26.
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AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the Self-Assessment Report 2025/26 including the Annual Review of Performance and Well-being Objectives.
Councillor Bryan Davies (Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance and People and Organisation) presented an update on the progress of preparing the Self-Assessment Report and Annual Review of Performance and Well-being Objectives 2025/26. Since April 2026, the Council had been undertaking the fifth round of Self-Assessment, where the Committee had played an integral part with a workshop held on 27.04.26 to record Members’ perspectives of Council performance and opportunities for improvement. The evidence collected had been used to produce the Draft Self-Assessment Report which included the progress against the Panel Performance Assessment recommendations and opportunities for improvement. He thanked all for their contribution in producing the report. Diana Davies, Corporate Lead Officer: Policy, Performance and Public Protection noted there was extensive work involved in producing the annual Self-Assessment report and included collating evidence from the Council’s independent regulators. The Chair stated that the Draft Marketing Summary (appendix 3) contained valuable information for Elected Members and residents. He extended his thanks to the Leader of the Council and Officers for their work. It was AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the Self-Assessment Report 2025/26 including the Annual Review of Performance and Well-being Objectives.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the contents of the report.
Councillor Matthew Vaux (Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection) reported there had been no RIPA activity by any service of the Council between 16.02.26 and 31.08.26. Reports were usually presented to the Committee every 6 months. He added that no changes were required to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy nor to the RIPA Social Media Policy at present. Following the appointment of Diana Davies to the role of Corporate Lead Officer: Policy, Performance and Public Protection, the authorising officer had changed from Alun Williams, the previous post-holder to reflect this change. The change was approved by Council on 24.09.26. Reference was provided to the RIPA training and the IPCO quarterly newsletter as outlined in the report. Elin Prysor, Corporate Lead Officer: Legal & Governance (& Monitoring Officer) reported that Diana Davies will be undertaking the Authorising Officers training on 29.10.26. In addition, a new e-learning module on RIPA was under development by the Learning and Development Team and would hopefully be available to all employees by the end of the year. She added that the IPCO Annual Report for 2025 had yet to be published. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report.
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AGREED to note the contents of the report and to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised (Welsh version) Policy (Appendix 1).
Councillor Matthew Vaux (Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection) explained that Cabinet approved the Whistleblowing Policy on 02.06.26, subject to an amendment being made to the sentence “This policy encourages you to put your name to your allegation” contained on page 8 of the Welsh-language version of the Policy. No amendments were required to the English-language version of the Policy. Members were advised that page 8 of the Welsh-language version of the Whistleblowing Policy (Appendix 1) had been updated to incorporate the agreed amendments. Elin Prysor, Corporate Lead Officer: Legal & Governance (& Monitoring Officer) noted that the department had sought advice from the Translation Service on the updated wording. Councillor Matthew Vaux also provided an overview of the training data included in the report, and to the number and outcomes of the Whistleblowing referrals to the Monitoring Officer between 01.09.25 and 31.08.26. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report and to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised (Welsh version) Policy (Appendix 1).
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the contents of the report and recommend that it be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.
Councillor Bryan Davies (Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance and People and Organisation) explained that he had urged for rural poverty to be added to the Corporate Risk Register. He stated that the purpose of the report was to provide an up-to-date evidence base and comprehensive understanding of rural poverty in Ceredigion and it brought together existing research, the latest data and wider evidence beyond the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) to assess the scale and nature of rural poverty across the county. He explained that the report aimed not only to present the current evidence, but to inform practical responses and contribute to the wider debate on how rural poverty was recognised, measured, and reflected within national policy, funding, and decision-making frameworks. The report was timely given the growing national awareness and local focus on rural poverty. There was increased recognition, backed by a growing body of evidence, that rural poverty differed from urban poverty and was less visible or “hidden”, meaning national deprivation measures did not always adequately capture the true extent of rural disadvantage such as limited access to public transport and local services, which impacted planning applications and the Local Development Plan. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Key points raised included: · Poverty and Cost of Living • Members acknowledged that the report provided a comprehensive overview of poverty and deprivation across Ceredigion but expressed concern regarding the scale of the challenges facing residents and the continued impact of poverty on communities throughout the county. • Members highlighted the “vicious cycle” of poverty, whereby some households struggled to afford healthy food options such as fresh fruit and vegetables, contributing to poor health outcomes and malnutrition over time. • Whilst recognising the positive work being undertaken by the Council and its partners, Members felt that further action was required to improve awareness of and access to available support services. • The Committee commended the Council’s leadership and proactive approach to addressing financial challenges affecting residents and welcomed the increasing focus on practical local solutions. • The impact of national and international events on communities within Ceredigion was highlighted. It was noted that Brexit had a significant impact on local businesses and household costs, particularly food and fuel prices, while ongoing international conflicts continued to place further pressure on fuel and energy costs. • Given the rural nature of Ceredigion, Members noted that many residents relied on oil-fired heating systems and private vehicles, making them particularly vulnerable to increased fuel and energy costs. It was considered that these pressures were becoming increasingly unsustainable for many households. · Transport and Rural Accessibility • Members referred to the situation of children residing in Prengwyn about a mile closer to the study area than Rhydowen who attended school in Llandysul but did not qualify for school transport. The Committee considered this a clear example of the challenges facing rural communities, where limited transport options could create barriers to accessing education and other essential services. • Concerns were raised regarding the issue of route safety for children and young people walking to access services, particularly where roads had been identified as hazardous, although these were the same routes identified by the education department for children accessing education at Ysgol Bro Teifi. • Members noted that many rural families relied on private transport for access to work, education, childcare and essential services, placing additional financial pressure on households already facing increased living costs. • Public transport was identified as a significant barrier to accessing employment, services and cultural activities. • Concern was expressed by the Chair regarding the new express bus service between Bangor and Carmarthen, which does not currently stop in Llandysul although it was highlighted as a possibility during the consultation phase and despite travelling through the area. The new service has two stops in Aberystwyth and one in Aberaeron, despite these towns having an hourly service to Carmarthen already. It was felt that Llandysul residents should be able to benefit from the service. • The Committee noted that the lack of public transport in rural areas had a detrimental impact on planning applications, as national planning policy sought to locate development in sustainable locations accessible by means of transport other than the private car. · Economic Development and Employment • Concern was expressed regarding the limited growth and development of the Welsh Government-owned business park at Groesffordd, near Llandysul. Members felt there was significant potential for the site to support additional businesses, employment opportunities and economic growth. • In contrast, the privately owned business park in Crymych, Pembrokeshire was highlighted as a successful example of a site supporting local businesses, local employment and economic development. • Members questioned whether discussions could be held with Welsh Government regarding the future ownership or management of the Llandysul business park, including the possibility of transferring ownership or devolving control to Ceredigion County Council to enable the site to be developed more effectively for the benefit of local communities. • The Committee discussed the links between employment opportunities, service provision and Ceredigion’s ageing population, noting the importance of sustainable economic growth to support thriving communities. • It was noted that Ceredigion and Powys were both members of the same Corporate Joint Committee and shared the view that a thriving rural economy was fundamental to the prosperity of Wales. Concern was expressed, however, that no representative from Mid Wales had been announced as a member of the Advisory Panel for the New National Development Agency for Wales. · Access to Services • Concerns were expressed regarding the centralisation and reduction of public services, resulting in residents being required to travel greater distances to access essential services. • Particular reference was made to the potential closure of services at New Quay GP Surgery. Members highlighted concerns that residents would be required to travel further to access healthcare services, which may not be accessible through existing public transport networks. • Members emphasised the importance of maintaining access to key services, including GP surgeries, dentists, opticians, childcare, schools, sports facilities and social activities. • It was noted that reduced access to services disproportionately impacted rural communities, older residents and those without access to private transport. · Social Isolation and Demographic Challenges • The Committee discussed the links between service provision, transport accessibility and Ceredigion’s ageing population. • Members expressed concern that, without further investment in communities and infrastructure, social isolation and exclusion could become increasingly prevalent. • Particular concern was raised regarding older residents becoming disconnected from essential services, social opportunities and support networks. · Digital Connectivity • Digital connectivity was identified as a significant issue, with Members noting that a number of properties across Ceredigion still lack access to full-fibre broadband and reliable 4G coverage. • Members recognised that poor digital connectivity could increase social isolation and limit access to employment, education, healthcare and public services. · Community Support • The Committee recognised the valuable contribution of local initiatives, including the Baby Bundles scheme conducted by Plant Dewi and other support services assisting families experiencing financial hardship. • Members considered that wider strategic action remains necessary to address the underlying causes of poverty across the county • Particular recognition was given to Citizens Advice Ceredigion for their vital role in supporting eligible residents access unclaimed benefits, which has successfully drawn significant additional income into the county’s local economy. In addition, the need to better understand the factors preventing certain eligible individuals from coming forward to access support was expressed. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report and recommend that it be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.
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AGREED to note the Quarter 4 2025/2026 report as the Local Authority’s performance activity for the Safeguarding of Children and Adults for information and monitoring purposes.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) presented the report for the final quarter of 2025-26, which monitored the activity on a multi-agency basis of the actions taken to safeguard children and adults within Ceredigion. An overview of the key points in relation to the safeguarding of children and adults for the reporting period as outlined in the report was provided. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Key points raised included: · The Chair welcomed the comprehensive level of detail provided within the report and noted that it offered valuable insight into safeguarding activity and performance across the region. · Members raised concerns regarding performance against the target timescale for holding Initial Child Protection Conferences. The report showed that only 35.7% of conferences had taken place within the required 15 working days of the Strategy Discussion/Meeting. · A Member also sought clarification regarding the scoring methodology used for child and family feedback included within the report, noting that it was unclear whether the scoring scale was based on five or ten points. In response, Officers advised that delays in convening Initial Child Protection Conferences could arise due to the availability of a range of professionals, including police officers, social workers and independent reviewing officers. It was noted that many professionals were required to attend strategy meetings and other statutory commitments, which could impact scheduling. Officers emphasised that safeguarding measures and protection plans were implemented immediately where required, with ongoing monitoring arrangements put in place, particularly for school-aged children. Performance against the 15-day target could vary between reporting periods and remained operationally challenging at times. · Members queried the reported increase in Section 5 safeguarding procedure reports relating to both children and adults. Officers explained that Section 5 procedures related to safeguarding allegations and concerns raised about practitioners, volunteers and carers in positions of trust who worked with children or adults at risk. Officers advised that the increase in referrals was largely attributable to greater awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and reporting procedures amongst staff and partner agencies. It was noted that concerns were increasingly being reported not only within workplace settings but also where issues were identified in individuals' personal lives in terms of behaviour and risk, which can impact on their professional role. Enhanced awareness and understanding of safeguarding duties were therefore considered key factors in the increased number of referrals being submitted. Officers advised that the increase did not necessarily indicate a rise in incidents but rather reflected improved awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and the Section 5 reporting process across organisations, resulting in more concerns being appropriately referred and recorded. It was AGREED to note the Quarter 4 2025/2026 report as the Local Authority’s performance activity for the Safeguarding of Children and Adults for information and monitoring purposes.
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AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · As a few reports had been deferred to a later date, the Healthier Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee would only convene once next month on 18 November 2026.
It was AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · As a few reports had been deferred to a later date, the Healthier Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee would only convene once next month on 18 November 2026.
It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2026. Matters arising: None.
None.
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